Transparency and equality in human rights arena
Sarath WIJESINGHE -Ambassador of Sri Lanka to United
Arab Emirates
Office of the High Commissioner of Human Rights and the Human Rights
Council are noble bodies structured for the benefit of the humans
representing the ‘Family of Nations’. These bodies are sacred because
they are set up for the sacred duty of prevention, promotion and
protection of the mankind through the ‘Honourable’ United Nations body
which is set up by replacing the League of Nations, which the world
considered inadequate to serve the mankind to the maximum benefit. Over
60 years the world body though not perfect has performed within their
capacity and the mandate promoting the sacred duties they have been
bestowed with to operate it on the grounds and basis of transparency,
equality and fair play.
United Nations building in New York |
The world body and subsidiary organizations consist of human beings
in the world in which the human weaknesses of ‘survival of the fittest’
to succeed prevails. This is the law of the jungle. According to
Aristotle laws are created to protect the weak from the strong and
powerful. This is the theme that outlines throughout the UN Charter. The
human nature obviously is to overshadow less powerful small beings which
will overcome only by advancement of intellectuality and great human
qualities which unfortunately rare and need to improve. Wealthy and
powerful nations should not forget that the world body is structured and
based on equality which is more fully echoed in article 2(1) as follows:
2(1) “The organization is based on the principle of the sovereign
equality of all its members”.
Transparency
It is accepted that UN Body should be exemplary, honourable,
transparent and act on equality and fair play. Equality is the base on
which the entire UN is constituted. This concept spreads throughout the
UN Charter as the theme of the Articles which have been construed 60
years ago needs to be restructured based on the challenges of the
current era. Appointments to key positions in the human rights arena
should be carefully considered. Those who are engaged in activism and
taking part in INGOs on agitations on ethnic basis and those who show
feelings in public of their feelings based on ethnicity should not be
considered for high positions in the UN. Those who belong to certain
ethnic groups about whom the controversies are discussed too should be
excluded for high appointments.
Sri Lanka's Permanent Representative to the United Nations in Geneva,
Ambassador Tamara Kunanayakam has quite correctly and timely raised the
issue of equal treatment to all nations alike in the eve of 19th Session
of the United Nations Human Rights Council scheduled to begin on
February 27 and continues until March 23, 2012.
Sri Lanka emerged victorious
This pronouncement has raised an important and pertinent issue to the
entire world. Whilst protecting the rights of individual and collective
human rights of nation bodies and world citizens, the rights of members
of the world body representing the world citizens too should be
respected and protected. This obviously is a legitimate request as every
member is entitled to be treated equally, impartially and with respect.
The member nations represent different parts of the world with
different ideologies and constitutions.
It is worrying that some nations have to request for equal treatment
for which they are entitled to morally and based on the spirit of the
Charter drafted as a result of the aftermath of the bloodshed in 1945
for a better world during the World War. It is thereafter that the
entire world got together to reactivate the world body for the benefit
of the mankind and a peaceful world to come.
Sri Lanka is a nation that bled for 30 years due to terror groups and
emerged victories after a long struggle. The winning of the war in Sri
Lanka is a miracle because world thought it is an unwinnable war. The
victory was based on sheer commitment, dedication and strategy of the
leader of the nation and the groups surrounded with determination to see
an end to the terror regime which has threatened the peace in the region
and the world over as the terror group was becoming stronger and
stronger as described by international bodies as the most ruthless and
feared terrorist organization ever.
It is with the help of genuine friends of the world family that Sri
Lanka has succeeded the struggle for peace and stability that they
enjoyed for the last two and a half years. It is to the credit of the
leaders and the Security Forces that there has not been an iota of
incident since the peace was dawned and the country is currently booming
economically, politically and all other areas.
The economy is on upward trend with 8 percent GDP growth. It is one
of the top destinations on tourism being one of the most beautiful and
stable countries which has embraced democracy in practice since 1930s
hand in hand with the ‘Giant’ and loved neighbour India - the two model
democracies in South Asia. Sri Lanka possesses the two main ingredients
required for investment and tourism that is absolute peace and political
stability which the people enjoy in a peaceful and happy environment.
One should not refrain from taking the side of those who terrorized the
entire population of Sri Lanka and South Asia as a whole.
Sri Lanka is a senior member of the great United Nations in which she
has performed par excellence as one time leader of the Non-Alignment
Movement and currently a country that adores and practices Non-alignment
and friendly bonds with all the nations small and powerful.
It has taken over 60 years for the United Nations to shape it up,
which is being restructured through the process of conventions and
practices. Sri Lanka as a most senior member enjoys the benefit of the
world body sharing it with the citizens and the neighbours. She is
active in SAARC and the United Nations subsidiary bodies.
Educated nation
Sri Lanka is an educated nation with highest rate of literacy and IT
knowledge.
She is in the upward trend and needs time to shape up its future.
Other nations take longer times of raising through the rubble of war as
it is an arduous exercise to restructure a battered nation over the ugly
wounds of terrorism. She has shown herself capable of performing further
miracles of progress, stability and prosperity for which the support and
encouragement of the friends in need are required.
It has proved this fact beyond doubts as the Sri Lankan economy is
booming and developments are emerging in all the areas intellectually
and physically. Infrastructure developments, economy, tourism, industry
and human developments including education and modern trends are
improving fast with no second to any other emerging nations.
Therefore it is obvious that she needs time and space to structure
her economy as this is the best opportunity through crossroads of
history to offer the best for the citizens who have gone through the
worst periods in their history.
Sri Lanka is no stranger to offer equality to all citizens and the
foreigners. When Arabs voyaged to Sri Lanka through the Silk Route
thousands of years the Kings embraced the visitors and provided them
with lands and facilities including construction of mosques. Today they
are a strong partner of our culture and economy. The majority of ethnic
groups in Colombo, the capital of Sri Lanka are Muslims and Tamils.
Sinhalese - the majority race is in the third place in the capital. This
indicates the impartiality and tolerance of the Sri Lankan society.
There is absolute freedom for religion and equality for all three
languages by establishing Sinhala, Tamil and English as official
languages in the country. The education and health is absolutely free
for the citizens which is an extremely rare occurrence in this complex
and competitive world. Education is free from Kindergarten to
University. Health is free for all including foreigners. This is the
only country that fed the entire North and East during the war including
terrorist groups and the trapped citizens to maintain human kindness
that they have been bestowed for thousands of years as a part of
humanity and kindness in the Buddhist, Hindu, Islamic and Christian
civilizations in which they were brought up.
Glass houses
Those who are blaming and aiming to tarnish the image of Sri Lanka
should go before a mirror to ascertain their records in the past in the
field of human rights. Sri Lanka never invaded other nations nor hunted
local inhabitants for lands. She has been adhered to the aspirations of
United Nations and the great concepts on which it is set up. It is
heartening to note that Sri Lanka is not alone or isolated. Sri Lanka
has a great history running back to thousands of years amidst peace and
loving kindness. She adores and grateful to the close friends and allies
who are friends in need. This is the time Sri Lanka needs the help of
the world and the close friends. Close friends are aware how close and
warm Sri Lankans are and how they treat foreigners, neighbours and the
human kind. A foreigner who has visited Sri Lanka will again want to go
back for the beauty and more over the warmth of the people who are
tolerant, religious, friendly and kind.
The Ambassador Tamara's request echoes thousands of words. It
indicates magnanimity, friendship and loving kindness, duties and
aspirations of world family whether big or small. It is the duty of the
powerful nations to look after the small and the world community at
large. An ideal opportunity has emerged for Sri Lankans and friends of
Sri Lankans to communicate with the following 47 countries who are
members of the Human Rights Council to present the pleasant case of Sri
Lanka aiming to be the Wonder of Asia full of happiness, joy and loving
kindness to the world.
Angola, Austria, Bangladesh, Belgium, Benin, Botswana, Burkina Faso,
Cameroon, Chile, China, Congo, Costa Rica, Cuba, Czech Republic,
Djibouti, Ecuador, Guatemala, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Italy, Jordan,
Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Libya, Malaysia, Maldives, Mauritania, Mauritius,
Mexico, Nigeria, Norway, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Qatar, Republic of
Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Spain,
Switzerland, Thailand, Uganda, United States of America, Uruguay
May we extend loving kindness and peace for all.
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